COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Walked past a Houston Astros fan who is here to see Craig Biggio go into the Hall of Fame. I think he summed it best: “I never realized there were so many ...]]>

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Walked past a Houston Astros fan who is here to see Craig Biggio go into the Hall of Fame. I think he summed it best: “I never realized there were so many Houston Astros fans.”

Seriously. They’re everywhere. Any reason to get out of Houston, probably.

But Cooperstown is that kind of place. Sports fans make pilgrimages to come to Cooperstown (population: 1,852) to see the Baseball Hall of Fame, whether to honor past heroes or dip themselves in nostalgia. (Sorry. Promise I won’t wax on too much.) But if you haven’t been here, it’s worth the trip. It’s a cool museum and even cooler surroundings, notwithstanding John Rocker’s presence on Main St.

A lot of cornfields. Of course. Because it figures that near these corny fields of dreams, there would be …

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… this. The Hall. Problem is: Shoeless Joe has never been allowed to make the walk from the corn field to this building on Main Street. (He should be. But that’s another blog.)

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This is Doubleday Field. It sits two blocks from the Hall of Fame and is called the “Birthplace of Baseball” (even though it really isn’t). The stadium was built in 1920. Strangely, it hasn’t been torn down yet. This would never work in Atlanta.

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I don’t know how much competition there is in the category of “T-shirt trilogies.” But this has to be in first place.

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The Braves picked up two pitching prospects in the Kelly Johnson-Juan Uribe trade. (From a memorabilia shop on Main St.)

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I had a heart-to-heart with Sandy Koufax. (True story: Only two people in my life I ever was nervous about meeting. One was Sandy Koufax, my sports hero. The other was Jim Murray, the Pulitzer Prize winning sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. I met Koufax in the early 1980s when I worked in L.A. and covered the Lakers. We were on a road trip in San Antonio. Kouxfax, then a roving minor-league instructor for the Dodgers, was at the game and his seat was courtside — next to mine. Pretty sure I drooled on him and had a sweaty palm when I introduced myself and shook his hand.

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John Smoltz doesn’t look happy to see you, shortly after you walk into the Hall. But he’s in a zone.

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The Braves’ new subdivision in Cooperstown: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Bobby Cox on the left, will be joined by Smoltz on the right.

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Here’s the real Smoltz. He said Saturday he will keep his speech to 18 minutes. Ten is generally the limit. “Bet the over,” said Jeff Foxworthy. “Bet the over,” said Tom Glavine. Smoltz comes from a long line of accordion players but he threw away a potential career to play baseball. Do you believe that? I asked Smoltz the question that no other media member would dare ask: Are you going to play a song during your induction speech? “There were thoughts of that. Let me tell you something, believe me, I’ve thought of a lot of different ways to make it unique and special. But I have not picked up the accordion since I was seven years old. I can play the keys but I can’t play the bass.” I think “Lady of Spain” would’ve added something nice.

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Hank Aaron has a far bigger area devoted to his career in the Hall of Fame than Barry Bonds does.

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Here’s the Bonds’ gallery.

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When you’re the new commissioner of baseball (Rob Manfred, standing center), you get to golf with Greg Maddux (on tee) and Phil Niekro (far left). Assume this is more fun than collective bargaining talks.

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This is David O’Brien’s rented yellow Kia Soul. Just felt like destroying his street cred a little.

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George Brett (hearts) Reggie Jackson

George Brett won the press conference again. The Hall of Famer, who never failed to entertain on or off the field, touched on a few subjects before teeing off in a golf outing Saturday. The highlights:

— On the special fraternity of Hall of Famers (as he’s wearing a “Reg-gie!” hat): “I mean, look at the hat I’m wearing. I hated Reggie (Jackson) when he played for Oakland. I hated Reggie when he played for Baltimore. I hated Reggie when he played for the Yankees. I hated Reggie when he played for the Angels. Now he’s one of my best friends here. He had this hat yesterday and I said, ‘Where’s my hat?’ He said, ‘You wouldn’t wear it.’ I said ‘I’ll wear it during the golf tournament and I’ll wear it at home.’”

— On the anniversary of the “Pine Tar Game” (Flashback: In 1983, Brett’s go-ahead two-run homer against the Yankees was nullified when umpires ruled pine tar went too high up on his bat. Kansas City won a protest, the home run was restored and the game resumed the next day with the Royals winning): “It brings back a lot of good memories. It wasn’t like a groundball went through my legs and I’m remembered for that. Prior to that, I was known as the guy with the hemorrhoids in the ’80 World Series. Every on-deck circle I went to from 1980 to July 24, 1983, on the road I heard every hemorrhoids joke you can imagine. After July 25 I was the pine tar guy. Who would you rather me remembered as?”
(Flashback II: Brett had to leave a World Series game because of hemorrhoids pain, had minor surgery the next day and returned the next game to hit a home run. His brother, Ken Brett, mused, “It will go down in the anals of baseball history.”)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrTYdlaqtxE&w=640&h=390]

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Sub-human John Rocker was in town again signing autographs in front of a memorabilia store. However, when I went to his scheduled 4-to-7 signing on Saturday, he didn’t show up. A store employee pleaded ignorance. As you can see on the sign, Rocker (when present) was charging $20 for a regular autograph and $25 for an autograph “with bad words.” Hah! I took money from him. He already swore at me for free!

It makes little sense for the Braves to consider trading starting pitcher Julio Teheran despite his struggles, which is a possibility some reports suggest. (AP photo)

Whether you agreed or disagreed with the Braves’ offseason trades involving Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis and Craig Kimbrel, there at least were reasonable arguments supporting all of the deals. Heyward and Upton were a year away from free agency, Gattis wasn’t viewed as a long-term answer at catcher and Kimbrel was viewed as expendable during a rebuilding period, especially given San Diego was (foolishly) willing to take on Melvin (B.J.) Upton, Jr.’s contract in the trade.

But trading starter Julio Teheran? That makes no sense.

Some readers emailed or Tweeted me questions a few weeks ago about the possibility of moving Teheran before the trade deadline, and I would imagine our David O’Brien has fielded similar queries. The only reason Teheran’s name is coming up is because he has struggled at times this season (6-5, 4.49) after two great years and has battled control issues (45 walks in 120.1 innings after only 51 in 221 the year before).

But at 24 years old, nobody should have expected he was a finished product after two great seasons.

Now, Fox’s Ken Rosenthal, who’s generally a solid reporter but whiffed in speculation on manager Fredi Gonzalez’s future, is at it again:

Two rival executives said Wednesday that the Braves are open to trading right-hander Julio Teheran — “quite open,” was how one put it.

However, a source with knowledge of the Braves’ thinking said that the team is not even considering such a move, explaining that Teheran is only 24, in the second year of a club-friendly six-year, $32.4 million contract and part of a deep crop of young pitchers the club worked hard to assemble.

All of that makes sense, but it’s not unusual for clubs to deny that a player is available until the moment he is traded. The Braves did just that during the offseason with Evan Gattis and Craig Kimbrel. Teheran’s age and contract make him attractive to other clubs as well as the Braves, despite his 4.53 ERA.

Team plans are subject to change – and sometimes vary according to a player’s performance. Teheran, in fact, is reversing his regression from earlier this season — he matched his career-high with 11 strikeouts against the Dodgers on Wednesday, and has pitched to a 2.81 ERA in his last four starts.

What if the Braves could trade Teheran for multiple pitching prospects and/or a young catcher?

Surely they would consider such a deal. Surely Teheran is not untouchable.

OK, let’s start with this: 1) NOBODY is untouchable, for the right deal. But you can say that about almost any player … on any team … in any sport … in any year; 2) OF COURSE, “Teheran’s age and contract make him attractive” to other clubs. That’s precisely why the Braves like him — that, and it doesn’t make sense to bail on a pitcher of his talents after one up-and-down season.

My view: This is pre-trade deadline drivel, whether concocted by a rival executive, Rosenthal or the Easter Bunny. I can’t imagine a scenario in which the Braves’ deal Teheran because he’s a guy with No. 1 starter potential (as he showed for two seasons) and the assets it would take for a team to acquire him from the Braves likely would exceed what that team would part with at the deadline.

Now, let’s talk about a former great Braves’ starter — John Smoltz. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday. I leave for Cooperstown, N.Y., Friday. Here’s the first of several columns and blogs I’ll be filing: The competitive instinct that drove Smoltz on the field … and off the field, with hilarious results. Many stories shared by his close friend and comedian Jeff Foxworthy. To read, click here.

Frank Beamer understands he needs to do more of what the message on the lunchbox says: “Win.” (Photo by Jeff Schultz, AJC)

PINEHURST, N.C. — Frank Beamer doesn’t look good, doesn’t sound good and certainly isn’t enjoying the unanimous support he used to in Blacksburg, Va. But, hey, outside of that, everything is great.

The 68-year-old, long-time coach of Virginia Tech is coming off a difficult few years. Off the field, he underwent throat surgery last December for undisclosed reasons and didn’t appear to be back at full strength yet Tuesday when he met with the media at ACC media days.

It’s also possible he’s worn out by the problems on the field. The Hokies are only 22-17 overall in the last three seasons. They’re coming off their first losing conference record (3-5) since Big East days (3-4 in 2002) and have lost more ACC games in the last three seasons (12-12) than in the previous eight (53-11). It’s easy to wonder at this point if Beamer might get the Bobby Bowden treatment and get pushed out the door at this late stage of his career.

Asked Tuesday if he’s driven to prove he can return Virginia Tech to contender’s status, Beamer said, “Absolutely. That’s what we need. That’s what fans need. That’s what students need. That’s what the people donating money need.”

Has he been hearing from that last group more of late? Beamer didn’t give a direct answer to that question.

“I don’t listen or read very much during the season,” he said. “But I think everybody understands where you are and what you need to do. Everybody understands your support people need to be happy.”

For what it’s worth, Virginia Tech is picked to finish second to Georgia Tech in the ACC’s Coastal Division in a preseason media poll. In a vote for conference champion, the Virginia Tech ranked fourth with seven total votes, behind Clemson (84), Florida State (41) and Georgia Tech (20).

ACC commissioner John Swofford makes remarks during the ACC NCAA college football kickoff in Pinehurst, N.C. (AP photo)

Despite the backdrop of two incidents of alleged domestic violence against women by Florida State football players, ACC commissioner John Swofford said Monday he didn’t feel the need to act like “Big Brother” and will continue to allow each school to handle cases individually.

“The league traditionally does not get involved in suspensions not related to athletics,” Swofford said Monday.

The league might want to consider opening its eyes and widening its views on some things. The SEC recently passed a rule that prohibits member schools from accepting a transfer with a history of domestic violence. It’s an unfortunate needed step in today’s world.

Florida State had two players arrested and charged with battery against women on consecutive days last month. Running back Dalvin Cook allegedly punched a woman in the face several times on a bar on June 23 and has been suspended indefinitely, pending an investigation. Cooks denies the charges. Quarterback De’Andre Johnson punched a woman in a Tallahassee club and also been charged. He was kicked off the team. One obvious difference in the two cases: There was surveillance video of the incident and it went viral on the internet.

This comes after former Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston was frequently in the news for the wrong reasons, including an alleged sexual assault incident. The Tallahassee police department never filed charges.

Swofford said the ACC remains comfortable allowing schools to police themselves in these situations. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in our presidents and athletic directors that they will deal with our situations individually. … Where our conference steps in is not in off-the-field issues. Those are issues out of context with the ACC policy. Our institutions have very appropriate mechanisms on their own campuses to address those situation. If I felt that weren’t the case, I’d pick up the phone and have a conversation.”

The recent incidents at Florida State prompted president John Thrasher to address the team’s players about conduct. Swofford said following Monday’s news conference that he believes Thrasher has taken the right steps to remedy the situation.

“I called president Thrasher — I actually talked to him as he was riding over to address the team,” Swofford said. “I thought his statement was very good, very strong … and I told president Thrasher I appreciate the leadership that you’re showing and applaud you talking directly to the team.

“It’s not what you want to read from any of your schools. Young people are going to make some mistakes and you hope they’re not of the magnitude that has huge ramifications for them or their program. But when these situations take place, what’s important to me and this league is that the institutions deal with them when they happen.”

When asked if he concerned because FSU is such high-profile conference member, Swofford said, “It’s going to be concerning for me wherever that occurs. Whether it’s a high-profile program or one with a little lower profile, it’s not what you want.”

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/20/swofford-acc-should-get-more-involved-with-domestic-violence-issues/feed/0John Swoffordjschultz667ACC commissioner John Swofford makes remarks during the ACC NCAA college football kickoff in Pinehurst, N.C. (AP photo)Fredi Gonzalez gets extension and needs to make most of ithttp://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/17/fredi-gonzalez-gets-extension-and-needs-to-make-most-of-it/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/17/fredi-gonzalez-gets-extension-and-needs-to-make-most-of-it/#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 15:43:59 -4Fri, 17 Jul 2015 15:41:22 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3624The Braves extended Fredi Gonzalez a lifeline Friday — and he needs to make the most of it.

The Braves are 42-47 but that record shouldn’t be viewed as a negative for manager Fredi Gonzalez. (AP photo)

The Braves extended Fredi Gonzalez a lifeline Friday — and he needs to make the most of it.

By giving him a one-year contract extension through 2016 (with a club option for 2017), management effectively told Gonzalez two things: 1) We put most of the blame for the team’s failures and fizzles from 2011 to 2014 on former general manager Frank Wren, not you; 2) We think you’re doing a good job with a young and undermanned team this season and we trust you moving forward.

The decision was the correct one, even if a loud segment of fans believe Gonzalez has gotten a pass since being hired as Bobby Cox’s replacement. Gonzalez needs to take some of the blame for the late-season collapse in 2011 (9-18 in September) and a failure to win a playoff round in his tenure, but he wasn’t working with great cards, either. And to blame him for the Braves going 42-47 in the first half this season is absurd, given the team’s rebuilding.

At some point, however, Gonzalez will have to prove he can take a team to the next level. That point is next season.

A one-year contract extension isn’t a major financial investment. Truth is, if the Braves suddenly morphed into a dumpster fire in the second half of this season and the Braves decided to fire Gonzalez — they won’t — paying off on a one-year contract isn’t going to ruin the Liberty Media.

But the screws tighten next season. It will be the Braves’ final season in Turner Field before they move to their new stadium in 2017. Management will want to see clear progress. There’s a lot riding on 2017 — like suite leases, season-tickets sales and corporate partners.

So Gonzalez should feel good about being given another year. But he needs to realize he has to make the most of it.

A: When we got together over the winter I told him: “You’re going to be a part of what we do here, as far as acquiring players, making deals and understanding the dynamic.” We made moves that Fredi knew were going to hurt him, but he never complained. He said, “Whatever’s good for the organization.” I know I haven’t given him all the weapons he needs. His handling of the bullpen — I look up and think, “Well, how could anybody (handle this group)?” He’s a winning man, he loves and cares about the Braves and he’s done a superior job. I was candid with Fredi: “I know you’re in your last year (of a contract). We’re making a run-through here, and we’ll make the call when it’s appropriate.” But Fredi is always ready to help figure out the solution to a problem.

Q: Will that be a tough call at the end of the year?

A: I don’t think so.

Q: As in, he’ll be brought back?

A: I don’t want to go there. There’s timing. But Fredi’s been really good. He’s been good to work with, and he’s done a good job with his staff. And this club may fall apart, but I know if it happens, it’s not going to be because Fredi forgot how to manage.

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/17/fredi-gonzalez-gets-extension-and-needs-to-make-most-of-it/feed/0092615 braves CC25jschultz667Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has tried everybody in relief, except possibly himself. (AP photo)Braves’ Hart says Gonzalez has been ‘really good’ in tough seasonhttp://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/16/braves-hart-says-gonzalez-has-been-really-good-in-tough-season/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/16/braves-hart-says-gonzalez-has-been-really-good-in-tough-season/#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 11:45:36 -4Thu, 16 Jul 2015 10:44:02 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3617I’ve posted a long Q&A that I did with Braves president of baseball operations John Hart on MyAJC.com. Near the end of it, I felt compelled to ask him about manager Fredi Gonzalez, given ...]]>

John Hart knows that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has dealt with a difficult situation this season. (AP photo)

I’ve posted a long Q&A that I did with Braves president of baseball operations John Hart on MyAJC.com. Near the end of it, I felt compelled to ask him about manager Fredi Gonzalez, given that his job status always seems to be a popular topic with readers.

I recently wrote about Gonzalez in a column you can find linked here, where he praised the openness and support of the front office: “In nine years of managing, this is the best situation I’ve worked in. It’s been a really good place to come to work. It’s been great. It’s been the ultimate.”

Here’s part of the exchange I had with Hart on the subject of Gonzalez, which can be found in the Q&A:

UPDATE: I’ve recast this to include entire section of Q&A on Gonzalez

Q: How has Fredi Gonzalez dealt with the personnel changes?

A: When we got together over the winter I told him: “You’re going to be a part of what we do here, as far as acquiring players, making deals and understanding the dynamic.” We made moves that Fredi knew were going to hurt him but he never complained. He said, “Whatever’s good for the organization.” I know I haven’t given him all the weapons he needs. His handling of the bullpen – I look up and think, “Well, how could anybody (handle this group)?” He’s a winning man, he loves and cares about the Braves and he’s done a superior job. I was candid with Fredi: “I know you’re in your last year (of a contract). We’re making a run-through here and we’ll make the call when it’s appropriate.” But Fredi is always ready to help figure out the solution to a problem.

Q: Will that be a tough call at the end of the year?

A: I don’t think so.

Q: As in, he’ll be brought back?

A: I don’t want to go there. There’s timing. But Fredi’s been really good. He’s been good to work with and he’s done a good job with his staff. And this club may fall apart but I know if it happens it’s not going to be because Fredi forgot how to manage.

Draw your own conclusions.

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/16/braves-hart-says-gonzalez-has-been-really-good-in-tough-season/feed/0Fredi Gonzalezjschultz667John Hart knows that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has dealt with a difficult situation this season. (AP photo)Braves’ Hart says Freeman may not return by Augusthttp://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/15/braves-hart-says-freeman-may-not-return-by-august/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/15/braves-hart-says-freeman-may-not-return-by-august/#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 17:09:57 -4Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:09:57 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3612The Braves have no shortage of problems going into the second half of the season, most stemming from continuing bullpen problems and the season-ending injury to closer Jason Grilli. But the team’s offense also has ...]]>

Freddie Freeman, who has been out since mid-June with a right-wrist injury, may miss another two weeks. (Curtis Compton, compton@ajc.com)

The Braves have no shortage of problems going into the second half of the season, most stemming from continuing bullpen problems and the season-ending injury to closer Jason Grilli. But the team’s offense also has struggled with the absence of first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist injury) and the first baseman may not be back any time soon.

The Braves had hoped Freeman would return immediately after the All-Star break. But John Hart, the president of baseball operations, said: “It’s more serious than we expected. I’m hoping he’ll be back before the first of August but he may not be. He’s working hard to get back but it’s a slow-healing injury and it still gives him pain when he swings. He dinged it, played four or five days with it, and we have him a few days off. We gave him an injection and thought he would be back in two or three days but it was no better. We did further tests and found it was more serious than we thought.”

The comments came during part of a larger Q-and-A I did with Hart that will run online Thursday and in Friday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Freeman, who has a bone bruise in his right wrist, is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, when the Braves’ resume the season with a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs. He went on the disabled list retroactive to June 18 and has missed 23 games. If Hart is correct, he will miss at least two more weeks.

Assistant general manager John Coppolella said last week, “The hope is that he’s back the second half of the season, but it’s kind of a day-to-day thing. We can’t say for certain. I don’t see it going past the trade deadline (July 31). I could see it being as early as right after the break, the first game. I think it’s going to be somewhere in that two-week window. That’d be my guess.”

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/15/braves-hart-says-freeman-may-not-return-by-august/feed/0070615-braves-CC23jschultz667Freddie Freeman, who has been out since mid-June with a right-wrist injury, may miss another two weeks. (Curtis Compton, compton@ajc.com)Thoughts on Braves’ first half, including Gonzalez, Bethancourthttp://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/13/thoughts-on-braves-first-half-including-gonzalez-bethancourt/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/13/thoughts-on-braves-first-half-including-gonzalez-bethancourt/#commentsMon, 13 Jul 2015 14:24:20 -4Mon, 13 Jul 2015 12:27:17 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3603The Braves are 42-47 at the All-Star break. It’s the first time they are below .500 at the All-Star break since 2009 (43-45) and represents their worst won-lost percentage in the first half (.472) since ...]]>

The Braves are 42-47 at the All-Star break. It’s the first time they are below .500 at the All-Star break since 2009 (43-45) and represents their worst won-lost percentage in the first half (.472) since 2006 (40-49, .449).

This should not come as a surprise, given the team’s moves during the winter, punctuated by the trade of closer Craig Kimbrel on the eve of the season, which left the bullpen thin and exposed. At their current pace, the Braves would finish 76-86. Their preseason over/under win projection in Las Vegas was 73.5. The recent injury to closer to Jason Grilli (torn Achilles) and the likelihood of the Braves being sellers at the trade deadline could make 73 wins a challenge.

Here are five hot-button issues on the team and my thoughts on each:

1. Question: Is the team’s record Fredi Gonzalez’s fault?

Answer: No. If you wanted Gonzalez fired before this season because you believed he was the cause of the team falling short of expectations in the past, we can have that debate. But to blame him for anything about this season is absurd. The Braves are 42-47 because they’re a 42-47 level of a team. An argument can be made that they’ve actually overachieved, given the roster in general and the pitching staff in particular. No. 1 starter Julio Teheran has an ERA of 4.56 (ballooned from 2.89 last year). Shelby Miller is the only starter who has pitched up to expectations, and even he hasn’t won in his last 10 starts (though partly from lack of run support). The bullpen’s ERA is 4.40 (second worst in the majors) and has blown 15 saves (tied for the most in the majors). Gonzalez has used 60 defensive lineups, 79 batting orders and 24 pitchers in relief. It’s not because he’s has the 64 Crayola box and can’t decide which one to use. It’s because the crayons keep breaking. There isn’t one manager in baseball would have this team with a winning record right now. Not one.

2. Question: Will the Braves be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?

Answer: Sellers.

Grilli’s injury doesn’t change anything, other than the fact his injury removes a significant asset from the table. President of baseball operations John Hart was going to be a seller at the deadline, anyway, and Grilli was a potential trade piece. The primary objective never has been about winning this season, it was about reloading the minor-league system with young pitching, shedding big salaries and dealing players looking at free agency after this season. Other potential trade pieces include four veterans who can help a potential postseason team — reliever Jim Johnson (2-3, 2.09), catcher A.J. Pierzynski (.283), outfielder Cameron Maybin (.289) and infielder Juan Uribe (.290).

3. Question: What was the organization’s biggest miscalculation of the first half?

Answer: Christian Bethancourt.

The Braves have a lot invested in Bethancourt. He was billed as the catcher of the future. The belief was: He’s ready to make the jump now. That played a minor role in the decision to not re-sign Brian McCann two years ago and a significant role to deal Evan Gattis to Houston this winter. But Bethancourt was sent to Gwinnett (AAA) in June, less because of his anemic batting average (.198) than his weaknesses in defense and handling a pitching staff. It’s unknown if this is a case of a young player simply needing to grow up or whether he ever will be fully committed to improving. Regardless, Pierzynski wasn’t supposed to play this many games (60). Gattis, primarily a designated hitter in Houston, leads the Astros in RBIs (54) and ranks second in home runs (15).

4. Question: Will the Braves make the playoffs?

Answer: No.

Washington will run away with the National League East and the Braves don’t have the players to make a second-half run for a wild card berth and beat out any combination of Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Arizona and San Diego. The contending teams also are likely to strengthen themselves at the deadline.

5. Question: So why go to the games?

Answer: Because for all of their problems, the Braves play hard and compete, similar to where the Hawks were two seasons ago. I realize that doesn’t count for much in the competitive world of sports — but, hey, given low expectations and the sales’ department’s need to fill seats, there’s a chance quite a few games will be discounted.

Braves starter Manny Banuelos threw a two-hit shut out in his major league debut before having to leave with cramping and dehydration. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

While the Braves are losing series, struggling just to get back to .500 and projecting little hope of making the playoffs, they can remember what happened Thursday night as a positive sign for the future — not just their own but pitcher Manny Banuelos’.

Banuelos, the third Braves’ pitcher to make his major league debut this season (Williams Perez, Matt Wisler) and the fourth to make his first start (Mike Foltynewicz), smothered the Washington Nationals Thursday night at Turner Field. He threw a two-hit shutout for 5 2/3 innings and had seven strikeouts until being forced to leave with dehydration and cramping in his left calf and fingers, which led him to hit two batters in the sixth.

Banuelos didn’t get the decision in the 2-1 win over Washington but he was the story. The Braves not only won in his debut, they did so with a 24-year-old rookie beating Max Scherzer, one of the game’s best pitchers, who fell to 9-6 despite an ERA of 1.82 and striking out nine.

“He locked up with one of the best pitchers in the game and he matched him pitched for pitch,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Banuelos, a native of Mexico, was acquired from the New York Yankees in January in the David Carpenter trade. He missed the 2013 season after Tommy John surgery, came back last season and has been strong this year with Triple A Gwinnett (6-2, 2.29).

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for years and years,” Banuelos said “Then I get an injury and all that, but thank God I made it.”

He only needs to resolve this dehydration issue. He said he “drank a lot of fluids today and yesterday” because the same thing happened to him in a start two weeks ago.

“We knew he was a sweater. That what our reports said,” Gonzalez said.

I believe that’s the first time I’ve heard that in a post-game interview.

It never was realistic that the Hawks would be able to keep both Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll from leaving in free agency, and it was even more clear that re-signing Millsap was the higher priority. But as tough as it was seeing the popular Carroll leave for Toronto on Wednesday, this figure should help ease the Hawks’ pain: $60 million.

That’s what the Raptors will pay Carroll over the next four seasons. It effectively raises his annual salary from about $2.4 million to $15 million. Nothing against Carroll, a great defensive player who developed a nice offensive game this season. But he’s not a $15 million a year player. Al Horford was the highest paid Hawk last season at $12 million.

But Carroll’s loss hurts. Here are some early offseason thoughts on the Hawks.

• UPDATE (6:40 p.m.): Millsap had a reported four-year, $80 million offer from the Orlando Magic but instead re-signed with the Hawks for three years and $58.938 million ($19.646 million average), according to Chris Vivlamore. Why take less? Because the third year of the deal is actually a player option, meaning Millsap can — and almost certainly will — hit the free agent market again after two seasons, when the NBA salary cap is higher than now. Millsap will make$38.446 million in the first two years of the deal, doubling what he made over the last two ($19 million).

• The Hawks acquired 6-11 power forward/center Tiago Splitter from San Antonio. Specifics of the trade have not been announced but the Hawks reportedly did not have to part with any current roster player because the Spurs were mostly interested in clearing salary cap space. Splitter represents a significant upgrade for the Hawks up front over Pero Antic (who signed with a team in Turkey). He can start with Horford when the Hawks go “big” or come off the bench. However…

• Pending other moves, the Hawks have a hole at small forward. If the team re-signs Millsap as expected — they reportedly have equaled Orlando’s max offer of four years at $20 million per season — they can’t really go with a starting front line of Horford-Splitter-Millsap because Millsap can’t defend the “3” spot. The Hawks could start Thabo Sefolosha at small forward but he will be returning from a broken leg and coach Mike Budenholzer might prefer him coming off the bench, as he did most of this season.

• The Hawks inherit the final two years of Splitter’s contract at $8.5 million and $8.25 million, respectively. But they’re in good shape, salary cap-wise, pending Millsap’s status and any other moves.

For now, I like the Splitter deal and hate to see Carroll leave but the Hawks couldn’t keep him at that price.

On May 17, Shelby Miller was 5-1 with a 1.33 ERA with the Braves, Jason Heyward was hitting .244 after a 0-for-4, two-strikeout night for the St. Louis Cardinals and Braves executive John Hart probably had his feet up on his desk, smoking a stogie.

But one of the Braves’ big trades of the winter doesn’t look like such a grand success today.

Miller is 44 days removed from his last win. Heyward, after a .217 April, went on to hit .284 in May and .329 in June (with a .892 OPS, a combination of on-base and slugging percentages).

Miller actually hadn’t been horrible of late, compiling a 2.70 ERA despite seven straight winless starts. But he was a train wreck early in Tuesday’s loss to Washington, allowing the Nationals a four-run first inning. These Braves aren’t built/duct-taped to climb out of holes like that. They lost to the Nationals 6-1 in the opener of a three-game series.

Miller left after five innings, having allowed five runs (four earned) and eight hits. He has gone eight consecutive starts (three losses, five no decisions) without a win.

Shelby Miller of the Braves sits in the dugout after allowing a four-run first inning against Washington Tuesday night. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

“It happens to everybody, you just have to put it behind you,” Miller said of the first inning, when he allowed a single and a double to the first to batters, then an RBI single and a two-run homer to Clint Robinson. “It was a bad inning to happen at that time. It’s a tough thing to come back from.”

This stretch won’t help Miller’s All-Star chances, nor does it give the Braves much hope for the rest of this series. Not that anybody really expects them to compete for the National League East title but they’re now seven games back. (Their elimination number is 79. I was bored. I did the math.)

I don’t want to bang on Miller much because the truth is he has exceeded expectations in Atlanta and nobody should have ever viewed him as the staff ace. That role belongs to Julio Teheran, even if Teheran (4.94 ERA) seems to have forgotten that.

The Braves are now 36-41, which projects to a 76-86 finish. That’s slightly above what most expected — their over/under win total in Las Vegas was 73½ — but they’re trending in the wrong direction with six losses in their last seven games.

Who should take the blame for this? Not manager Fredi Gonzalez.

I know Gonzalez is a wonderful target for a loud segment of the fanbase on social media. But there is only so much a manager can do with a team that went through 44 players, 56 defensive lineups and 69 batting orders in the first 76 games, and just called up two more relief pitchers, Nos. 20 and 21 of the season.

I spoke to Gonzalez before Tuesday’s game and he said he feels supported by management. Actually, he said he feels more supported by this regime (John Hart and John Coppolella) than he has at any time of his career. If you want to read between the lines on that about his relationship with former general manager Frank Wren, you’re welcome to.

Georgia coach Mark Richt looks quite pleased that his Bulldogs have been picked to win the SEC East. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Everybody makes predictions. I’m not convinced that what every sports information (media relations) director from the 14 SEC schools believe is any more valid than what the comprehensive researchers at Weekend Predictions, Inc., believe, but here goes:

It’s Georgia vs. Auburn for the SEC title!

According to the annual polling of SID’s by the Birmingham News (AL.com), Georgia will win the SEC East and Auburn the SEC West. If that’s true, the teams’ regular season meeting Nov. 14 at Auburn will represent a conference championship preview three weeks before the title game Dec. 5 in the Georgia Dome.

Auburn received three first place votes and three second-place finishes from the seven Western Division football information directors to top its division with 33 points, barely edging Alabama, which received three first-place votes, two second-place votes and one third-place finish for 32 points.

Georgia had an easier path in the East, gathering six first-place votes for 36 points. Missouri was second with one first-place vote, four seconds and one fifth for 28 points.

A school’s football information director could not vote for his school in the polls.

Georgia’s projected SEC East title in the poll is not a surprise — that’s the way most oddsmakers have it. While the Bulldogs’ lack certainty at quarterback, a strong running game and an improving defense should be enough to win a division that is expected to remain weak. The oddsmaker 5-Dimes recently released its SEC championship odds. Georgia is the highest ranked East team, but Alabama was given the edge over Auburn.

Notice how tilted the odds are in the West’s favor. Four of the top six teams are from the West. The four longest odds are in the East.

But do you agree that Georgia will win the East?

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/29/georgia-auburn-picked-to-play-for-sec-title-so-it-must-be-true/feed/0Belk Bowl - Georgia v Louisvillejschultz667Georgia coach Mark Richt looks quite pleased that his Bulldogs have been picked to win the SEC East. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)Post-Ferry era starts with 2 picks, 2 trades and … Tim Hardaway Jr.?http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/25/post-ferry-era-starts-with-2-picks-2-trades-and-tim-hardaway-jr/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/25/post-ferry-era-starts-with-2-picks-2-trades-and-tim-hardaway-jr/#commentsThu, 25 Jun 2015 22:38:46 -4Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:34:50 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3546New Hawks owner Tony Ressler said Thursday that he chose not to keep Danny Ferry as general manager in part because he felt comfortable with the organizational structure and the three decision-makers who ran things ...]]>

Tim Hardaway Jr., playing for New York, scored 23 points in a late-season game against the Hawks (Photo by Getty Images)

New Hawks owner Tony Ressler said Thursday that he chose not to keep Danny Ferry as general manager in part because he felt comfortable with the organizational structure and the three decision-makers who ran things during Ferry’s purgatory: coach Mike Budenholzer, assistant GM Wes Wilcox and CEO Steve Koonin.

“I came to the conclusion that this was a franchise that was starting a new chapter, and to start a new chapter with a new ownership, with a single voice, with clear direction and with stability and having what was working,” Ressler said in an interview with Atlanta Journal-Constitution editors and staff members. “What we saw working was Bud-Wes-Steve. That’s what we bought into and that’s what we liked.”

But Ressler left out of one thing: Ferry acquired most of the players and hired Budenholzer and Wilcox. The post-Ferry era officially started Thursday night in the draft and the results were … interesting.

They drafted 15th overall, took Kansas small forward Kelly Oubre, then traded him to Washington for the 19th pick and two future second-rounders. They drafted Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant at 19th, then traded him to the New York Knicks for shooting guard Tim Hardaway, Jr.

So effectively, the Hawks made four moves that started with the 15th pick in the draft and ended with a shooting guard who likely will come off the bench and is entering the final year of his contract.

Twitter was confused.

Twitter was angry.

Twitter wanted more for this piece of the Joe Johnson trade.

I’m not ready to kill the Hawks over this decision yet. Here’s my read on this first Budenholzer/Wilcox production:

• The Hawks are in win-now mode. They didn’t want or need another project to develop. They did not believe a player available to them in this draft could have an immediate impact next season.

• Budenholzer knew the Hawks needed to improve bench scoring. You saw what happened in the postseason when defenses smothered Kyle Korver and he tired. They also needed an early season insurance policy in case Korver is slow to come back from ankle ligament surgery.

• Budenholzer and Wilcox likely still want to add some size, but that could come in free agency.

Hardaway averaged 11.5 points in 70 games (30 starts) in his second season but he scored 23 in a late-season game against the Hawks and 25 two nights later against Detroit.

The sale of the Hawks from the Atlanta Whining Toddlers on Parade to Tony Ressler was rubber-stamped by the NBA on Wednesday, thereby officially ending the reign of terror of possibly the worst ownership in the history of professional sports.

No more Washington group vs. Atlanta group. No more lawsuits. No more buffoonery, at least we hope.

There is no guarantee Ressler will be a great sports owner, or even a good one. But I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, merely because his name isn’t Levenson or Peskowitz or Foreman or Gearon or Sleepy or Dopey. I’ve never really had a problem with partner Rutherford Seydel. He always seemed a harmless enough guy who just happened to join forces with the wrong used car salesmen.

The NBA has approved the sale of the Hawks to billionaire Tony Ressler (here with his wife, actress Jami Gertz). (Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images)

Nothing can undo the damage the Atlanta Spirit did. Atlanta lost its NHL team because those knuckleheads didn’t care about the sport, didn’t want the team, ran the franchise into the ground and then threw it onto the first northern-bound wagon they could find. Their actions before, during and after the Thrashers’ sale were nothing less than contemptible, right down to the day when Levenson — who orchestrated the whole thing — hid in his bunker when the team was moved to Winnipeg and wouldn’t deal with the backlash.

Nothing can reverse the blizzard of litigation between the two groups, or the backroom brawls or sandbox fights, or the fact that the Atlanta group — led by Michael Gearon Jr. — would have done anything to get former general manager Danny Ferry out of town, regardless of how many games the team won. Why? Because Ferry largely took his marching orders from Levenson, ignored Gearon as a major partner and burned bridges with Dominique Wilkins, Gearon’s pal and the franchise icon.

That’s not meant as a defense of Ferry — obviously he could have handled a lot of things better. But Gearon and his father have shown themselves to be spineless weasels with their actions. Never trust someone who when you shake hands with him, you only get four fingers back.

It’s appropriate that the unofficial end for the Spirit came because of shame — the Levenson email which played to racial stereotypes and use them as an excuse for small crowds. Among the wonderful excerpts:

“(The crowd is) 70 pct black … the cheerleaders are black … the music is hip hop … at the bars it’s 90 pct black … we are doing after game concerts to attract more fans and the concerts are either hip hop or gospel. … My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base. … I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority.”

Strange. Crowds weren’t a problem this past season. Fans were white, black and every shade in between. Maybe because the team was winning.

But I don’t want to make a rash assumptions, like, “White fans won’t come to the game because they don’t like hip-hop.”

What a dolt.

The only mystery here is that Gearon will still be a minority owner in this group, expected to retain about a one percent stake. Some New York-based Spirit partners also are expected to be “investors” in the new setup.

I don’t understand that. It would be better if Ressler started clean with all new faces and spines that weren’t the consistency of gummi worms. But if he’s really the only one with a vote in important matters and all of those dysfunctional conference calls among partners go away, it will be an improvement.

“We are pleased that the NBA’s Board of Governors has approved the purchase of the Atlanta Hawks by principal owner Tony Ressler,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

Atlanta should be pleased as well. Because while we don’t know what the next regime will bring, at least it ends the last one.

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/24/ressler-a-step-forward-if-only-because-his-name-isnt-levenson-gearon/feed/0USC Shoah Foundation Institute Ambassadors For Humanity Gala - VIP Arrivalsjschultz667The early days of the Atlanta Spirit Group. Ah, good times. (AJC photo)The NBA has approved the sale of the Hawks to billionaire Tony Ressler (here with his wife, actress Jami Gertz). (Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images)Heyward finding rhythm — would Braves consider re-signing him?http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/23/heyward-finding-rhythm-would-braves-consider-re-signing-him/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/23/heyward-finding-rhythm-would-braves-consider-re-signing-him/#commentsTue, 23 Jun 2015 10:12:54 -4Tue, 23 Jun 2015 09:55:29 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3525When Braves executives John Hart and John Coppolella began their offseason radical makeover of the lineup last November by trading Jason Heyward to St. Louis, I wrote they were taking a monumental risk.

Former Brave Jason Heyward hits a solo homer for St. Louis in the ninth inning of a game in Philadelphia on Sunday. (Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)

When Braves executives John Hart and John Coppolella began their offseason radical makeover of the lineup last November by trading Jason Heyward to St. Louis, I wrote they were taking a monumental risk.

It wasn’t meant as a criticism of pitcher Shelby Miller, who came to Atlanta as part of the deal, but rather who the Braves potentially were giving up: a home-grown player who could win games with his defense and speed, even when he was struggling at the plate. Because the real concern was: What would happen if the Heyward everybody expected offensively when he made his major league debut by crushing a home run ever materialized in St. Louis?

Well, it looks like he has.

After going 3-for-4 with a home run in the Cardinals’ last game Sunday, Heyward is 11-for-20 (.550) in the last five games and is hitting .355 in June. He is hitting .279 for the season but consider his month-by-month splits: .217 in April, .284 in May, .355 in June.

There is no guarantee Heyward will evolve into the power hitter many expected for a player of his size (6-foot-5, 245). His seven homers project to 16 over a full season. That’s more than either of the last two years (14, 11) but not close to the 27 he hit in 2012. But he is finding his rhythm offensively, something he struggled to do in Atlanta, at least in part because of injuries.

“The word I keep coming back to is ‘free.’ I don’t know ‘free’ from what? But I saw a guy trying to do so much he was almost bound up. … He was trying to, one, make an impression on his new team and, two, still trying to figure out the kind of hitter he wants to be. And you always have free agency hanging over your shoulder. There are a lot of things going on all at once and it looks to me like he got rid of some of the clutter.”

The Braves dealt Heyward because they believed they would not be able to re-sign him in free agency. They also liked Miller, who has been the Braves’ best starter: a 1.99 ERA, despite only a 5-3 record, and staff highs of 90 1/3 innings and 10 “quality starts” in 14 outings.

So this could end up being the rare trade that helps both teams.

There’s also this scenario to consider: Would the Braves consider going after Heyward in free agency, or do you believe that a productive season would make him too rich for their budget?

Danny Ferry was on what the Hawks termed a “voluntary leave of absence” this past season. (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)

The Hawks’ buyout of Danny Ferry’s contract was officially announced today. The news release had a strangely headline, “Atlanta Ferry and Danny Ferry part ways.” The release begins, “The Atlanta Hawks announced today that Danny Ferry has stepped down as General Manager of the team.” Cutting through the spin: He was fired.

I understand the consternation in the fan base over this issue — a local team effectively shoving a talented general manager out the door. So I thought it would be a good time to share a few thoughts on this subject:

1. It’s not just about Ferry’s words: Let’s put aside whether you believe Ferry just read the scouting reports comments on Luol Deng or actually thought them, whether you think what he did is a fireable offense or not, whether you think he’s racist or not, whether he has long passed served his punishment and should be welcomed back to the team he built or not. This is about simple business. Tony Ressler and his partners purchased the Hawks for $730 million, a deal that becomes official Wednesday. No businessman wants to make that big of a purchase and inherit a perceived mess like the Ferry situation. It has been apparent for several weeks that Ferry’s exit would be finalized before the sale of the team closed. Ressler did not want to deal with questions at his first news conference like, “What would you say to people who still believe the Hawks are harboring a racist general manager?” Because whether you think the question is fair or not, it would be asked. The truth if, you put 1,000 people in a room, 950 might say Ferry should be brought back. The other 50 would scream. And maybe picket. If you’re Ressler, you ask yourself: Can I avoid that?

2. Ferry’s exit doesn’t mean the Hawks will collapse: This is the No. 1 concern because Ferry did a remarkable job building the team over three off-seasons and he hired coach Mike Budenholzer. But the structure, philosophy and blueprint Ferry brought with him doesn’t have to go away. Budenholzer (who will get the title of team president) and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox (who will get a new title as well) will remain in Atlanta. They know the types of players that will fit into the locker room and function in this system. Consider what the system and philosophy did for the careers of Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll, Jeff Teague and others.

3. HOWEVER, Ferry’s exit doesn’t mean the Hawks will ascend. Hawks officials can speak all they want about how Budenholzer is prepared to be the team’s ultimate decision-maker. But the truth is, Ferry was the big picture guy, not Budenholzer and certainly not Wilcox. The latter are smart guys and hard workers but they didn’t make the final decisions on anything when Ferry was in charge. Budenholzer has to prove he can do that while also coaching the team.

4. Ferry’s exit won’t keep free agents away: Free agents sign with teams for several reasons: Money, head coach, money, city, money, friends on the roster, money. How often do you hear, “I signed here for the general manager”? That’s not meant to be a knock on Ferry. It’s just fact. It’s along the lines of a high school recruit saying, “I signed with Georgia because of Greg McGarity.” As long as a player gets his money and has a belief the organization is stable and moving in the right direction, he’ll sign.

5. Wilcox will be watched closely: Budenholzer was a great assistant coach in San Antonio who had to prove his worth as a head coach in Atlanta. Wilcox was a tireless worker as an assistant who will have to prove his worth as the GM. That said, he’s not the true GM — Budenholzer is. But you can believe the new owners will watch Wilcox closely to see how he operates behind the scenes without Ferry to lean on.

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/22/danny-ferrys-exit-about-more-than-what-he-said/feed/0042813 hawks CC26jschultz667042713 ATLANTA: Hawks General Manager Danny Ferry surveys the playoff scene during the first home playoff game against Indiana on Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON/ CCOMPTON@AJC.COMPersonal Journey: Addiction, recovery and my son Joshhttp://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/19/personal-journey-addiction-recovery-and-my-son-josh/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/19/personal-journey-addiction-recovery-and-my-son-josh/#commentsFri, 19 Jun 2015 12:01:54 -4Fri, 19 Jun 2015 09:39:33 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3508The most important story I’ve ever written wasn’t about a college football game. It isn’t about an athlete, a team, a trade, an injury, an ownership, a stadium issue, an Olympics or the NCAA. The ...]]>

The Schultz family Jeanne, Josh, Jeff and Sierra with their dog Lilly at their Johns Creek home. When Josh went into treatment for opiate addiction the family got a puppy, Lilly, as part of a distraction and a symbol of co-dependency. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

The most important story I’ve ever written wasn’t about a college football game. It isn’t about an athlete, a team, a trade, an injury, an ownership, a stadium issue, an Olympics or the NCAA. The most important story I’ve ever written was about addiction and recovery.

My son’s story. My family’s story. My story.

I wrote a “Personal Journey” with my son, Josh, who first went into treatment for an addiction to Oxycontin in the spring of 2011, just before his scheduled finals his senior year at the University of Georgia. Having written about athletes with drug and alcohol issues in the past, as well as growing up in the somewhat loose culture of California, I believed I knew a lot about the worlds of addiction and recovery. It turns out I knew very little.

Josh’s struggles and relapses in his first two years were painful for all of us. But our lives today are better off for it. My wife, Jeanne, and I have gained a new perspective and live our lives completely differently, one based on spirituality, gratitude over expectations and understanding the concept of powerlessness.

We wanted to help our son recover. But we learned the hard way that was out of our hands. Understanding powerlessness is the most difficult lesson for both the addict and the parent.

Addiction, whether we’re talking about drugs, alcohol, food, gambling or anything else, is a one-day-at-a-time battle. Josh is approaching two years of consecutive of great days.

Why are we telling this story? Because Josh and I believe if we can help just one addict, one parent or anybody who has been touched by addiction and mental illness, it will be worth it. It’s the final step of any 12 Step program: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”

]]>http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/19/personal-journey-addiction-recovery-and-my-son-josh/feed/0062115 addiction CC12jschultz667The Schultz family Jeanne, Josh, Jeff and Sierra with their dog Lilly at their Johns Creek home. When Josh went into treatment for opiate addiction the family got a puppy, Lilly, as part of a distraction and a symbol of co-dependency. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)Bethancourt’s mistakes behind plate lead to two San Diego runshttp://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/11/bethancourts-mistakes-behind-plate-lead-to-two-san-diego-runs/
http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/11/bethancourts-mistakes-behind-plate-lead-to-two-san-diego-runs/#commentsThu, 11 Jun 2015 23:28:44 -4Thu, 11 Jun 2015 23:28:44 -4http://jeffschultz.blog.ajc.com/?p=3501This shouldn’t be taken as a suggestion that one of the Braves’ most touted prospects is going to be a bust. But should the Braves be worried about Christian Bethancourt?

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt struggled defensively Thursday with a passed ball and catcher’s interference that accounted for two of San Diego’s runs. (AP photo)

This shouldn’t be taken as a suggestion that one of the Braves’ most touted prospects is going to be a bust. But should the Braves be worried about Christian Bethancourt?

It’s one thing for Bethancourt to be struggling offensively in his first full season (.206 batting average, which actually went up 10 points after getting two hits Thursday against San Diego). But the Braves’ lost to the Padres 6-4 in 11 innings as much because of Bethancourt’s poor play at catcher as another bullpen collapse or Julio Teheran’sbad eighth inning.

• A passed ball by Bethancourt with the bases loaded allowed San Diego to score its first of three runs in the eighth inning and narrow the Braves’ lead to 4-2. Bethancourt now has four passed balls in only 26 games this season.

“It’s my job to catch the ball and I didn’t. The ball got by, they scored the run and I have nothing to blame it on … just me,” he said.

• Later in the inning, with the bases still loaded and the score 4-3, Bethancourt was called for catcher’s interference when the Padres’ Cory Spangenberg swung the bat and it tipped Bethancourt’s glove. Spangenberg was awarded first base and Yonder Alonso came home from third to tie the game 4-4.

“I could hear it in the dugout — I don’t think it was any question .. it was catcher’s interference,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Bethancourt’s impending arrival convinced the Braves to deal Evan Gattis in the winter and, to some degree, played a role in not making an aggressive offer to keep Brian McCann in free agency two years ago. The Braves have enough other holes on this team. They can’t afford to have their young catcher giving games away.

The Braves, who have used a mind-numbing 17 pitchers in relief already this season and own the majors’ worst bullpen with 11 blown saves and a collective ERA that had ballooned to 4.90 before Tuesday night, came together for one game.

Aberration? Probably. But after starter Mike Foltynewicz allowed five runs and 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings, five relievers shut out San Diego for the final 3 1/3 and the Braves rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5.

Closer Jason Grilli, who had blown a save Monday night when the Braves lost 5-3 in 10 innings, tempted fate a day later. He allowed a one-out double in the ninth to Yonder Alonso, a wild pitch to put the potential tying run 90 feet away and a two-out walk to Cory Spangerberg. But Grilli struck out Clint Barnes to end the game and celebrated with several fist pumps.

Enjoy it, Atlanta. The afterglow may not last long.

The Braves haven’t been doing a lot of celebrating lately. It took Joey Terdoslavich’s first major league homer and winning two replays to reverse plays at the plate – one that negated Melvin Upton Jr. from scoring San Diego’s sixth run in the eighth; another that allowed the Braves’ Juan Uribe to score after he had been called out at the plate following Andrelton Simmons’ bases-loaded double in the sixth — for the Braves to rally and win.

But the bullpen effort by David Aardsma, Luis Avilan, Brandon Cunniff, Jim Johnson and Grilli was the most unexpected development of the evening.

Asked whether he has had any trepidation about going to the bullpen, manager Fredi Gonzalez said: “Somebody has to try to get somebody out. My body language when I go to the mound to bring somebody in is the same. Somebody told me, ‘Hey, you wave at the bullpen like you’re bringing in Mariano Rivera.’ You feel like the guy you’re going to bring in will do the job. If not, don’t bring him in.”